In short, we use a lot of muscles when we walk. The main ones are the the core muscles and leg muscles – quadriceps, hamstrings, glutes, and calf.

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Secondary muscles include: the pelvis’s stabilising muscles – external abductors, the internal adductors, the abdominal muscles at the front, and the spinal muscles at the back; the symmetrical tibialis anterior muscles in front of the calf; and the arm and shoulder muscles to a lesser degree, but can be used a great deal in power walking.